Freezing tray and release device therefor



Sept, 1, 1936. w. DALTON 2,053,134

FREEZING TRAY AND RELEASE DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 27, 1935 Inventor: William Dalton iPatentedl Sept. H, 193

FBEEZKNG TRAY AND RELEASE DEVICE THEREFOR William Dalton, Schenectady, General Electric Company, New York Application Ant 2'2, 1935, Serial No. 38,047

l2 Glaims.

. My invention relates to freezing trays and more particularly to release devices therefor.

Freezing trays, which are ordinarily shallow open top rectangular receptacles, are provided for refrigerating machines and especially those designed for household use. The freezing tray is provided with a series of partitions which divide the same into a series of relatively small compartments and the compartments are filled with water or other substances to be frozen. The freezing tray is then placed on a supporting surface of a cooling unit, such as a refrigerant evaporator, in order to freeze the contents of the tray. Dilliculty has heretofore been encountered in removing such freezing trays from the surface of the evaporator, or other cooling unit, on which it is supported since there is ordinarily sumcient incisture on the surface of the cooling unit or the tray when the tray is placed on the cooling unit, to form an ice bond between the trayand the contacting surface of the cooling unit.

It is an'object of my invention to provide a freezing tray having an improved arrangement for breaking the ice bond between the tray and the adjacent surface of the cooling unit prior to removal of the tray therefrom.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed-to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding 'of my invention,-

reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a portion of a refrigerant evaporator and a freezing tray mounted thereon, the freezing tray being provided with a release device embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a refrigerant evaporator and a freezing tray mounted thereon, the freezing tray being provided with a modified form of-a release device embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 I have shown a-shallow open top rectangularfreezing tray I 0, i

made of sheet metal which is provided with a removable partition assembly lidividing the interior thereof into a series of compartments in which cubes of ice, or the like, it are formed.

A depending lip illa is formed on the upper front edge of the freezing tray in andforms aeconvenient handle therefor. The freezing tray lid is mounted on a fiat horizontal supporting surface l3 of a refrigerant evaporator it, such as is used in a household type refrigerator. The evaporator N. Y" assignor to a corporation of it includes a smooth inner sheet i to and a corrugated outer sheet i512. The sheets i511 and 95b are arranged with the portions of the sheet b between the corrugations therein in contact with the sheet [15a and the sheets are welded, or otherwise rigidly secured, together throughout the lengths of the contacting portions thereof. Vaporizable liquid refrigerant is supplied to the passages in the evaporator it formed by the corrugations in the sheet itb and the cooperating inner sheet I50. froma suitable source. The refrigerant circulating through the passages of the evaporator it is vaporized by the absorption of heat from the contents of the freezing tray it and the surrounding air within the compartment in which the evaporator is mounted.

The freezing tray ii! is provided with a device for releasing the same from the supporting surface it of the evaporator it when it is desired to remove the freezing tray to from the evaporator. There isordinarily sufficient moisture eitheron the exterior surface of the freezing tray ill or on the supporting surface E3 of the evaporator N, when the freezing tray is positioned within the evaporator, that a bond of ice is formed between the bottom of the freezing tray it and the supporting surface .43 of the evaporator, thus making it desirable to provide some easily manipulated arrangement for freeing the freezing tray from the surface of the evaporator. In the form. of my invention, illustrated in Fig. 1, the release device includes a strip iii of stiff resilient sheet metal, such as phosphor-bronze. I prefer to use phosphor-bronzesince it not only has the desired characteristics of resilience and stiffness but also resists corrosion. The strip of metal it includes opposed c-shaped portions I! and i8 and an integral depending tongue i9 which is spot welded, or otherwise rigidly secured to the exterior surface of the front wall of the freezing tray It adjacent the upper edge thereof. The central sections "a and 18a of thee-shaped portions I1 and I8 of the resilient strip iii are reduced in cross section in order that the maximum bending will take place in the sections Fla and Ma. The lower ends '20and ii of the strip it are bent upwardly being arranged side by side, and are slidably enaged' by a U-shaped sheet metal guide 22 which holds them in position. The ends 23 and 24 of the guide 22 extend laterally therefrom and are spot welded, or otherwise rigidlysecured, to the lower portion of the exterior surface of the front wall of the freezing tray Hi. The guide 22 thus serves to hold'the resilient strip It in a substantially elliptical configuration in which the bottom loop portions 25 and 26 thereof are positioned adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of the freezing tray W and in the plane of the bottom of the tray. The portions 25 and 26 of the sheet metal strip it are thus ordinarily in contact with the supporting surface it of the evaporator Hi.

When it is desired to remove the freezing tray ill from the surface it of the evaporator 14, the frozen bond between the bottom of the tray It and the surface i 3 of the evaporator may be read; ily broken by grasping the portions i! and E8 of the resilient strip in and flexing them inwardly toward each other. This causes the strip i6 to assume a configuration in which the portions ill and it are somewhat straightened, the maximum bending occurring in the central sections Na and Mia, so that the rounded bottom portions 25 and 2B of the resilient strip 55 are extended below the bottom of the freezing tray. As a consequence, the front of the freezing tray if! is lifted from the surface i3 of the evaporator I 4 by the downward movement of the portions 25 and 25 of the resilient strip it which bear against the adjacent surface of the evaporator and the frozen bond between the freezing tray and the evaporator is thus broken. It will be noted that the movement of the strip l6 during flexure thereof results in what may be termed a toggle action. Each of the c-shaped portions i1 and i8 of the resilient strip i6 is in effect a toggle, the upper ends acting as fixed pivots, the sections "a and 3a acting as movable joints, the parts of the C- shaped portions on each side of the sections I'Ia and Mia acting as toggle links and the lower portions 25 and 26 exerting a resultant downward pressure due to the toggle action. It will thus be seen that I have provided an arrangement in which the leverage of a toggle mechanism is had while at the same time a simple, rugged, easily manufactured device is utilized in which the conventional type of pivots are omitted. The latter feature is important since if conventional pivots including pivot pins and hubs were used, they would become clogged with ice and frost.

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated a modified form' of release device embodying my invention. This releasedevice is illustrated in conjunction with a rectangular open top metallic freezing tray l0 provided with a partition assembly I i and having ice cubes l2 therein, which is identical with the freezing tray l0 and partition assembly therefor illustrated in Fig. 1. The freezing tray l0. shown in Fig. 2 is mounted on a supporting surface 13 of a refrigerant evaporator l4 made up of a smooth inner sheet i511 and a corrugated outer sheet I5b which is identical with the evaporator l4 shown in Fig. 1. The release device illustrated in Fig. 2 includes a C-shaped stripZ'l of stiff resilient sheet metal such as phosphor-bronze and having a reduced central section 2111. The upper end 28 of the resilient strip 2'! is spot welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the exterior surface of the front wall of the freezing tray l0 adjacent the upper edge thereof. The lower end 29 of theresilient strip 21 extends upwardly and is slidably engaged by a U-shaped sheet metal guide 30 which holds it in position. The ends of the U-shaped guide 30 extend laterally therefrom. as indicated at 3|, and are spot welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower portion of the exterior surface of the front wall of the freezing traylll. The guide 30 thus serves to hold the resilient strip 21 in a subit from the surface l3 of the evaporator ill, thefrozen bond between the bottom of the tray it and the surface I 3 of the evaporator may be readily broken by flexing the resilient strip 21 inwardly, the maximum bending occurring in. the

central section 21a. The resilient strip 2? is thus caused to assume a configuration in which the central portion thereof is somewhat straightened so that the rounded bottom portion 32 thereof is extended below the bottom of the freezing tray by the toggle action described above. As a consequence, the front of the freezing tray i0 is lifted from the supporting surface I3 of the evaporator. M by the downward movement of the portion 32 of the resilient strip 21 which bears against the adjacent surface of the evaporator, and the frozen bond between the freezing-tray and the evaporator is thus broken.

Although I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a rectangular metallic freezing tray, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular form shown, but wish to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to-free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal, means for securing a portion of said strip to the exterior surface of one of said side Walls of said freezing tray, and means remote from said securing means engaging said strip for maintaining the same in a configuration in which a second portion thereof lies adjacent an edge of one of said side walls of said freezing tray, said strip being .deformable to a configuration in which said second portion thereof extends laterally beyond said edge of said side wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

2. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device thereforadapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release devlce comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal having a section of reduced cross section, means for securing a portion of said strip on one side of said section of reduced cross sec- -tion to the exterior surface of one of said side walls of said freezing tray, and means engaging saidstrip on the opposite side of said section of reduced cross section for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which a second portion thereof lies adjacent an edge of ore of said walls of said freezing tray, said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said section of reduced cross section is flexed laterally and in which said second portion of said strip extends laterally beyond said edge of said side wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit due to toggle action, the maximum deformation in said strip occurring at said section of reduced cross section.

3. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from 'aoos isa an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said re-' lease device comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal, means for securing a portion of said strip to the exterior surface of one of said sidewalls of said freezing tray, and means including a guide mounted on said freezing tray and slidably engaging said strip for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which a second portion thereof lies adjacent an edge of one of said side walls of said freezing tray, said strip being dein a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

d. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stifi resilient sheet metal having a substantially C-shaped portion, means for securing said strip to the exterior surface of one of said side walls of said freezing tray adjacent one endof said c-shaped portion thereof, and means engaging said strip for maintaining the same in a configuration in which a part of said C-shaped portion of said strip lies adjacent an edge of one of said side walls of said freezing tray, said c-shaped portion of said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said part thereof extends laterally beyond said edge of said side wall of said freezing tray and ma position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

5. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like hav ing bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an acent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal having a substantially c-shaped por tion, the central section of said C-shaped por-- tion having a reduced'cross section, means for securing said strip to the exterior surface of one of said side walls of said freezing tray adjacent one end of said G-shaped portion thereof, and means engaging said strip for maintaining the same in a configuration in which a part of said l-shaped portion of said strip lies adjacent an edge of one of said walls of said freezing tray, said C-shaped portion of said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said seciii) tion of reduced cross section is'fiexed laterally and said part of said G=-shaped portion extends laterally beyond said edge of said side wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit due to toggle action.

6. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stifi resilient V sheet metal having a substantially (s-shaped portion, means "for securing the upper end of said shaped portion of said strip to an exterior surface of the front wall of said freezing tray adjacent the upper edge thereof, and means engaging said strip for maintaining the same in a configuration in which the lower part of said C-shaped portion thereof lies adjacent the bottom edge of the front wall of said freezing tray, said strip being oleformable to a configuration in'which said lower part thereof extends downwardly beyond said lower edge of said front wall of said freezing.

tray and in a position to bearagainst an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

7. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device thereforadapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of said cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal, means for securing a portion ofsaid strip to the exterior surface of one of said side walls of said freezing tray, and means including a U-shaped guide extending about said strip adjacent one end thereof and slidably engaging the same for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which a second portion thereof lies adjacent an edge of one of said side walls of said freezing tray,

said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said second portion thereof extends laterally beyond said edge of saidside wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit, 1

8. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stifi resilient sheet metal having a substantially C-shaped portion, means for securing said strip to the exterior surface ofone of said side walls of said freezing tray adjacent one end of said C-sh'aped portion, and means including a U-shaped guide mounted on said freezing tray and extending about the an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

an freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free saidfreezing tray from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stiff resilient sheet metal having a substantially elliptical shape with the ends thereof extending inwardly side by side, means including an integral tongue extending from the top of said strip for securing the same to the exterior surface of the front wall of said freezing tray adjacent the upper edge thereof, and means including a U-shaped guide mounted on said freezing tray and extending about said ends of said strip for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which the lower portions thereof lie adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall of said freezing tray, said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said bottom portions thereof extend downwardly beyond said lower edge of said front wall of said freezing tray and ina position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

if). A freezing tr'ayfor ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to from an adjacent surface of a cooling unit, said release device comprising a strip of stiff resillent sheet metal having a substantiallyelliptical till free said freezing tray said freezing tray adjacent the upper edge thereof, and means including a U-shaped guide mounted on said freezing tray and extending about said ends of said strip for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which the lower portions thereof lie adjacent the bottom edge of said front wall of said freezing tray, said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said central sections thereof are flexed laterally and in which said bottom portions of said strip extend downwardly beyond said lower edge of said front wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit due to toggle action.

11. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of thecooling unit, said release device comprising a C-shaped strip of stifi resilient sheet metal, means for securing the upper end of said. C-shaped strip to the exterior surface of the front wall of said freezing tray adjacent the upper edge thereof and in a position in which said C-shaped strip extends out wardly from said freezing tray, and means including a U-shaped guide mountedon said freezing tray and surrounding the lower end of said C-shaped strip for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which the lower portion thereof lies adjacent the lower edge of said front wall of said freezing tray, said strip being deacce ed formable to a configuration in which said lower portion thereof extends downwardly below said lower edge of said front wall of said freezing tray and in a position to bear against an adjacent surface of the cooling unit.

12. A freezing tray for ice cubes or the like having bottom and side walls and a release device therefor adapted to free said freezing tray from an adjacent surface of the cooling unit, said release device comprising a c-shaped strip of stiff resilient sheet metal, means for securing the upper end of said C-shaped strip to the exterior surface of the front wall of said freezing tray adjacent the upper edge thereof and in a position in which said C-shaped strip extends outwardly from said freezing tray, said strip having a central section of reduced cross section, and means including a U-shaped guide mounted on said freezing tray and surrounding the lower end of said C-shaped strip for maintaining said strip in a configuration in which the lower portion thereof lies adjacent the lower edge of said front wall of said freezing tray, said strip being deformable to a configuration in which said central section is flexed inwardly and in which said lower portion of said strip extends downwardly below said lower edge of said front wall of said 

